Once the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft concludes, the picture becomes clear for both the remaining unsigned free agents and the franchises looking to acquire or trade them. In short, the Washington Commanders did not draft a wide receiver. Instead, they selected Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles as their first-round, seventh overall pick. The Commanders were heavily linked to another Ohio State player, wide receiver Carnett Tate, especially due to the college connection with veteran wideout Terry McLaurin. However, Tate was selected fourth overall by the Tennessee Titans, where he will become a powerful weapon for quarterback Cam Ward.
Opportunity for Stefon Diggs
This absence of a rookie receiver is good news for unsigned NFL free-agent wide receivers like Stefon Diggs. The New England Patriots wideout is available, and Bleacher Report analyst Timothy Rapp sees him as one of the best fits for the Commanders. Quarterback Jayden Daniels desperately needs high-quality weapons on the gridiron. Adding another option like Diggs to complement Terry McLaurin could make sense for Washington. Beyond McLaurin, the depth chart is thin: Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, and Treylon Burks. Burks, 26, played just eight games in 2025 and recorded 10 receptions on 22 targets for 130 receiving yards and two touchdowns. McCaffrey, 25, played nine games and had 11 receptions on 15 targets for 371 yards and three touchdowns. Brown, 26, played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, amassing 20 receptions for 227 yards and one touchdown. The receiving corps is young and promising but lacks depth, so an explosive player like Diggs, even at age 32, could be exactly what the Commanders need.
Other Potential Destinations
Rapp also sees Diggs as a fit for other franchises that did not draft a wide receiver on the first day. The Atlanta Falcons did not have a first-round pick, and the Carolina Panthers selected Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Monroe Freeling as their first-round, 19th overall pick. Atlanta signed Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus this offseason, but neither is a true game-changer to complement Drake London, who was drafted in 2022. A veteran could help the 24-year-old London become an established player. Diggs could be the missing link for the Falcons. In 2025, he recorded 85 receptions on 100 targets for 1,013 receiving yards and four touchdowns, earning an 87.5 overall PFF grade (sixth among 81 qualified wide receivers) and an 87.5 receiving grade (seventh). As for Carolina, Xavier Legette was signed in 2024 but did not meet expectations as a first-round pick. Pairing Diggs with 2025 draft pick Tetairoa McMillan, who had an explosive rookie season (70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns), could give the Panthers an upgraded receiving corps.
Contract Projections
The 32-year-old Diggs signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with New England in March 2025 but was released in March 2026, clearing $16.8 million in cap space. According to Spotrac, his market value projects a two-year, $27 million contract, with an average annual salary of $13.8 million. His total career earnings through 2026, over 11 seasons, are $157 million. Which team will sign Diggs—Washington, Atlanta, or Carolina? It remains to be seen.
